[Hard_Pill_To_Swallow]

You left out the rest of the quote. Perhaps if you consider both sentences together, it will make more sense.

" ... atheists can choose not to say the Pledge, but this is no different from being forced not to say the Pledge. If they choose to say it, they will be lying, so this is not a choice at all. "

Atheists have the "choice" to either not say the Pledge or to state an oath which those two words render invalid. You may disagree, but I see this as a problem. When people are sworn in as naturalized U.S. citizens, they say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is the official oath of U.S. citizenship. Since 1954, every single atheist who becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen commits perjury in their first act as a U.S. citizen.

This has been a pleasant exchange. Thank you.

[Jeff Head]

By US law, circa 1940's, they cannot be "forced" to say the pledge. They can simply not say whatever part offends them. To my knowledge, they will not be docked for so doing.

Therefore, they need not either be forced to say it or lie. Very simple solution really ... it's called freedom.